Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship Celebrates Milestone of Introducing 10,000 Youngsters to Golf.
Dubai: The Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship will celebrate a significant milestone when it returns to Yas Links next week, as the DP World Tour and Abu Dhabi Sports Council prepare to surpass 10,000 children and young people introduced to golf through community initiatives associated with the Championship and the Team Cup.
The milestone comes during the UAE’s Year of Family, guided by the tagline ‘Growing in Unity’. It reflects the two organisations’ continued efforts to make golf more accessible to young people across the emirate, from those taking their first swing in a school hall to students considering a future career in the sport.
At the grassroots level, the Future Falcons Programme, owned and operated by Abu Dhabi Sports Council and the Emirates Golf Federation, introduces children aged four to 16 across the country to the fundamentals of golf in a fun and engaging environment. Its activities include dedicated golf sessions, school visits, coaching clinics and activations at major sporting and community events.
Young participants who develop their abilities through the programme can advance to the Future Falcons Skills Challenges, where they test their skills in competition. The grand final takes place during Championship week at Yas Links, offering participants the chance to meet some of the world’s leading golfers.
The Championship’s schools programme, delivered in partnership with M+C Saatchi Sport & Entertainment Middle East, brings golf into the classroom. During the month leading up to the tournament, members of the event team visit schools to conduct assemblies that introduce pupils to the sport and give them opportunities to try it during the school day.
Students from across the emirate are subsequently invited to attend the Championship, watch elite players in action, explore Yas Links and enjoy family-friendly activities at the Championship Village.
Older students can also discover career pathways through the Careers in Golf Programme. Established by the European Tour group to promote greater diversity and inclusion within the industry, the initiative is delivered in collaboration with the Golf Forum and provides education and mentoring for young people from underrepresented backgrounds.
Workshops for students aged 16 to 19 showcase the wide range of opportunities available beyond professional playing, including coaching, event management and golf course operations. Participants also receive special access to the tournament, allowing them to meet industry professionals and learn more about the work involved in staging a major international golf event.
Last year, Viya Golf partnered with Aldar on an additional schools initiative, working with the Emirates Golf Federation to bring pupils from nine local schools to Yas Links during tournament week. The students received dedicated coaching in the Golf for All Zone.
“Reaching 10,000 young people will be a proud moment for everyone involved in both events, and there is no more fitting time to achieve this milestone than the Year of Family,” said Maria Grandinetti-Milton, Director of Sustainability at the DP World Tour. “Golf is a sport families can enjoy together throughout their lives, and our aim has always been to make that first step as accessible as possible — whether it involves a child picking up a club for the first time or a student discovering a potential career in the sport.”
Organised by the DP World Tour and Abu Dhabi Sports Council, the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship marks the start of the DP World Tour Play-Offs. The leading 70 eligible players in the Race to Dubai Rankings will compete at Yas Links, with the top 50 advancing to the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.
Defending champion and US PGA Champion Aaron Rai heads this year’s field, alongside back-to-back Masters champion Rory McIlroy, who is chasing a record-equalling eighth Race to Dubai title, and two-time Major winner Jon Rahm, who will make his tournament debut.
The Team Cup, a three-day match-play competition between Great Britain & Ireland and Continental Europe, will return in January 2027. The event was previously held at Abu Dhabi Golf Resort in 2023 and 2025.
Tickets and further details about the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship are available through the official ticketing website.
